Save Article

Choice of Alito for High Court
Sets Stage for Ideological Battle

Jurist's Many Cases Provide
Fodder for Senate Fight;
Pivotal Role for 'Gang of 14'

By

Jeanne Cummings and

Jess BravinStaff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Updated Nov. 1, 2005 12:01 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON -- President Bush traded a fight with his conservative base for a war with liberals in nominating Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

Ultimately, though, the fate of Mr. Bush's latest choice for the bench will probably be determined by a small bipartisan group of senators who can make or break any Democratic attempt to block a vote on the nomination. The so-called Gang of 14 was assembled earlier this year for just this purpose, to avoid a procedural Senate meltdown in an ideological clash over the future of...